Bearing for supporting roof components above roof ceilings

ABSTRACT

For supporting roof components, such as purlins or other roof bearers, above a ceiling, the invention provides a bearing comprising a base body which rests on the ceiling providing a plurality of inclined support surfaces, as well as individual support bodies each of wedge-like configuration providing a respective bearing surface resting upon the corresponding support surface, each support body being moveable upwardly on its support surface of the base body but being prevented from moving downwards in the opposite direction.

United States Patent Gtibel Aug. 7, 1973 [54] BEARING FOR SUPPORTING ROOF 3,030,730 4/1962 Costar 254/104 X N v R 0F CEILINGS 3,425,179 2/1969 Haroldson... 52/126 X COMPONE TS S F 55 2,709,571 5/1955 Mafera 254/104 76 Invento Klaus ii e1 Am orst, 1 r Trifiplrsch Germany FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [22] F1 d A 6 9 1 6,710,164 1/1968 Netherlands 52/126 1 e ug.

[21] Appl. No.: 169,789 Primary ExaminerJ. Franklin Foss Att0rneyRobert W. Beach 301 Foreign Application Priority Data [57] ABSTRACT Aug. 10, 1970 Germany P 20 39 670.7 Aug. 10, 1970 Germany P 20 39 669.4 For SUPPOrhhg P Such as PhrhhS or other roof bearers, above a ceiling, the invention pro- 52 us. C1. 248/1, 52/126 vides a hearing Comprising a base bhdy which rests 51 rm. C1. E04g 21/00 the Ceiling Providing a plurality of inclined pp 4 [58] Field of Search 248/23 188.2 354 R, faces, as as ihdividua' PP bodies each of 248/1883 1; 5 52/126 wedge-1ike configuration providing a respective bearing surface resting upon the corresponding support sur- [56] References Cited face, each support body being move-able upwardly on its support surface of the base body but being pre- 1 794 798 SSTATES PATENTS 254/l04 vented from moving downwards in the opposite direc- 1 arr 1,668,538 5/1928, Brandt 248/1882 UX Ion 3,318,057 5/1967 Norsworthy 52/126 13 Claims, 16 Drawing Figures PAIENIED 3. 7 50.987

sum 1 or 7 Inventor:

44% 40324 5/ W A): M

PATENIED 3.750.987

SHI l 9F 7 Fig.9

. Inventor: M405 4515;; 1/ WA M BEARING FOR SUPPORTING ROOF COMPONENTS ABOVE ROOF CEILINGS This invention relates to a bearing for supporting or stanchioning roof components, such as purlins or other roof bearers, at a spacing over a roof ceiling.

Known bearings for supporting or stanchioning roof components have the disadvantages either that they are not vertically adjustable at all, or that any vertical adjustability which is available can only be made use of with substantial difficulty and with the aid of tools.

An object of the invention is to provide such a bearing, in which vertical adjustability can be effected quickly and simply, without special tools having to be used.

With this object in view, the present invention provides a bearing, for supporting a roof component, such as a purlin, at a spacing above a roof ceiling, comprising a base body for positioning on the ceiling, as well as of support means resting on the base body, charac terised in that the support means comprises individual support bodies, wedge-shaped in configuration, bearing surfaces of which rest on a support surface, extending parallel to said bearing surfaces, of the base body and inclined to the roof surface, and in that the support bodies are mounted so as to be displaceable upwardly relative to the base body, but are secured against downward displacement, in the direction of inclination of their bearing surfaces, relative to the base body.

The support surface of the base body may be formed by the uppersurfaces of wedge-shaped ledges or strips arranged on the base body.

According to another design, the support surfaces of the base body are formed by two flanks of the upper surface of the base body which is then of a ridge-shaped configuration.

In a specific embodiment of the invention, the support body is secured against downward displace-ment of the support body, by toothing provided both on the bearing surface of the support body and on the support surface of the base body. I

In another embodiment, the support body is secured against downward displacement of the support body, by the provision of a perpendicular slotted aperture in the support body and a groove arranged in the support surface of the base body, said groove extending at an angle to the slotted aperture, a locking pin being insertable through the slotted aperture and into the groove.

The invention will bedescribed further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 is a part-sectional side elevation of a first embodiment of the bearing of the invention, this embodiment comprising outwardly rising strips or ledges, the upper support surfaces of which are toothed;

FIG. 2 shows a detached plan viewof the support bodies of the bearing of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the base body of the bearing of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing a second embodiment of the bearing, having toothing in the side walls of the ledges arranged on the base body;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one of the support bodies, and a respective stirrup associated therewith, of the embodiment of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the base body of the bearing of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIGS. '1 and 4, but showing a third embodiment of the bearing, having toothing in its side surfaces and corresponding toothing of the support body;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an end elevation illustrating a fourth embodiment which has a base body of a ridge-shaped configuration;

FIG. 10 is an end elevation similar to FIG. 9 but showing another embodiment of the bearing, wherein the base body is of ridge-shaped configuration;

FIG. 11 is a plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIGS. 1, 4 and 7 but showing a sixth embodiment of the bearing of the invention, wherein the support bodies have slotted apertures;

FIG. 13 is a plan view of the support bodies of the bearing of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 12;

FIG. 15 is an end elevation similar to FIGS. 9 and 10 but showing yet a further embodiment wherein the base body is of ridge-shaped configuration; and

FIG. 16 is a plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 15.

The bearing illustrated in FIGS. I to 3 comprises a base body 14 whereon are radiallly extending wedgeshaped ledges l5, and support bodies 20. In the centre of the base body 14 is a cruciform web 16 which supports arms 17 which meet with one another at right angles and which represent the upper limits of dividing walls 18 which serve as spacers projecting upward from asthe base body 14.

The wedge-shaped ledges 15 each have a bevelled upper support surface 19 which is formed with toothing. The support bodies 20 similarly have, on their lower bearing surfaces 21, toothing which corresponds to the toothing of the support surfaces 19. The support bodies 20can be adjusted elevationally by relative upward displacement on the support surface 19. On this score, each support body 20 only has to be displaced somewhat upwards to its desired elevational disposition, the complemental sets of serrations riding relatively over one another after. the manner of ratchets to permit this. When the desired heights of the support bodies 20 have been achieved, complementary engagement of the two sets of toothing prevents downward displacement of the support bodies 20 relative to the base body 14.

In the embodiment according to FIGS. 4 to 6, radially disposed wedge-shaped ledges 23 arranged on the base body 14 have upright toothings 24 (i.e., perpendicularly to the planar undersurface of the base body 14), whilst the upper surfaces 25 of the ledges 23, which upper surfaces 25 are support surfaces, are smooth. A support body 27 has a bottom bearing surface 26 engaging each of these support surfaces 25.

Each support body 27 has a groove 30 in its upper side and in its side surfaces. An inverted-U shaped stirrup 29 can be slipped onto each support body 27, with its free ends projecting downwards to engage in the toothing 24 of the corresponding ledges 23 on the base body 14, serving as a key to retain the support body in the desired adjusted position.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8, radial ledges 31 on the base body 14 are provided with upright toothing 32 (i.e., perpendicularly to the planar undersurface of the base body 14) and is arranged on at least one inner wall of the ledge 31 which is U-shaped or channelshaped. Each support body 34 likewise has, on at least the matching one of its side surfaces, corresponding toothing 33 which can be engaged with the toothing 32. This arrangement, of course, provides for adjustment of the support bodies 34 into selected positions along the ledges 31, whilst ensuring that the support bodies are prevented from downward displacement by application of a downward load on them after they are fitted in their adjusted positions.

As has also been shown in FIG. 8, an intermediate piece 36, provided on both sides with teeth, can alternatively be provided to engage with corresponding teeth on support body 35 and on one side of the ledge 31. If desired the teeth on one side of the intermediate piece 36 can have double the spacing of the teeth on the other side.

In the embodiments of FIG. 9 and FIGS. and 11, base body 38 is of inverted-V shaped configuration, having flanks 37 which give rise to a ridge-shaped profiling. Upper support surfaces 41 of the flanks 37 are provided with toothing. Resting on the support surfaces 41 are respective support bodies 39 and 42, the bearing surfaces 40, 43 of which are likewise toothed. FIGS. 9 and I0 differ particularly by the design of the support bodies 39 and 42 whilst the base bodies 38 with their flanks 37 profiled in ridge-roof-shaped configuration are substantially the same in both cases.

As shown more particularly in FIG. 11, it is advantageous to arrange for the support bodies 42 to be staggered relative to one another, so that the support bodies 42 of the one flank 37 do not butt against the support bodies 42 of the other flanks 37 when a comparatively large vertical height adjustment has to be selected.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 12 to 14, ledges 22 having support surfaces 53 which are inclined relative to the roof surface (i.e., relative to the under surface of the base body 14) are provided on the base body 14. Superimposed on the support surfaces 53 are support bodies 28 which have bearing surfaces 44 on their undersides. These support bodies 28 each have a respective slotted aperture 45 which extends perpendicularly through the body 28 and is advantageously at an angle to the longitudinal direction of the body 28 as can be seen in FIG. 14. Present in the support surfaces 53 of the ledges 22 are respective grooves 46 which each stand at an angle to the length of the ledge 22 and to the respective slotted aperture 45. A pin 47 can be inserted from above through the slotted aperture 45 into the groove 46 and this holds the support body 28 in the desired position securely on the ledge 22 of the base body 14.

In the embodiment of FIGS. and 16, base body 54 is again profiled in ridge-shaped configuration and has flanks 48, so that it is similar to the embodiments of FIG. 9 and FIGS. 10 and 11. In a manner similar to the embodiment of FIGS. 12 to 14, each support body 49, in this case, has a respective continuous slotted aperture 50. The flanks 48 each likewise have corresponding slotted apertures 51 each of which, however, extends at an angle to the corresponding slotted aperture 50. The corresponding support bodies 49 can, therefore, be retained in any desired position on the respective flank 48 of the base body 54 by a respective locking pin 52.

I claim: 1. A bearing for supporting separately and individually a plurality of upper components, comprising a base body having a plurality of inclined stationary support surfaces thereon, a plurality of individual wedgeshaped support bodies engaging said respective support surfaces, each of said support bodies being selectively positionable independently of the other support bodies along one support surface of said base body for selecting the desired elevation of the upper surface of such support body to support its upper component, and means securing each support body independently of the other support bodies against displacement downward along its support surface relative to said base body.

2. The bearing defined in claim 1, the base body being of ridge shape and including two downwardly divergent flanks constituting the support surfaces of the base body.

3. The bearing defined in claim 1, and stationary wedge-shaped ledges on the base body, the support surfaces of the base body being formed as inclined upper surfaces of said ledges.

4. The bearing defined in claim 3, the securing means including generally horizontal teeth on the inclined upper surfaces of a ledge and teeth on the lower surface of a support body engageable with said teeth on the inclined upper surface of a ledge.

5. The bearing defined in claim 3, the securing means including upright grooves in opposite upright sides of a ledge, upright grooves in opposite upright sides of a support body corresponding to said upright grooves in the sides of a ledge, and a stirrup of inverted-U shape engageable in side grooves of such support body and in side grooves of such base body ledge.

6. The bearing defined in claim 3, the securing means including upright teeth on at least one upright side of a ledge and upright teeth on at least one upright side of a support body that can mesh with said teeth in an upright side of a ledge.

7. The bearing defined in claim 3, the securing means including upright teeth on an upright side of a ledge, upright teeth on an upright side of a support body facing said toothed upright side ofa ledge, and an intermediate piece having upright teeth on both sides, the teeth on one side of said intermediate piece being capable of meshing with the teeth on said toothed ledge side while teeth on the other side of the intermediate piece are meshed with teeth on said toothed upright support body side.

8. The bearing defined in claim 1, the securing means including a groove in an inclined stationary support surface extending at an angle to a vertical plane perpendicular to a horizontal line in such inclined support surface, a slot in the support surface crossing said groove and a locking pin inserted through said slot and penetrating into said groove.

9. The bearing defined in claim 1, the inclined stationary support surfaces being arranged in a cluster such that vertical planes perpendicular to horizontal lines in such respective inclined surfaces intersect.

10. The bearing defined in claim 9, the plurality of inclined stationary support surfaces sloping downward planes perpendicular to horizontal lines in such respective inclined support surfaces intersect, and spacer means disposed substantially centrally between such intersecting vertical planes and projecting upwardly from the base body to a location above the upper surfaces of the support bodies. 

1. A bearing for supporting separately and individually a plurality of upper components, comprising a base body having a plurality of inclined stationary support surfaces thereon, a plurality of individual wedge-shaped support bodies engaging said respective support surfaces, each of said support bodies being selectively positionable independently of the other support bodies along one support surface of said base body for selecting the desired elevation of the upper surface of such support body to support its upper component, and means securing each support body independently of the other support bodies against displacement downward along its support surface relative to said base body.
 2. The bearing defined in claim 1, the base body being of ridge shape and including two downwardly divergent flanks constituting the support surfaces of the base body.
 3. The bearing defined in claim 1, and stationary wedge-shaped ledges on the bAse body, the support surfaces of the base body being formed as inclined upper surfaces of said ledges.
 4. The bearing defined in claim 3, the securing means including generally horizontal teeth on the inclined upper surfaces of a ledge and teeth on the lower surface of a support body engageable with said teeth on the inclined upper surface of a ledge.
 5. The bearing defined in claim 3, the securing means including upright grooves in opposite upright sides of a ledge, upright grooves in opposite upright sides of a support body corresponding to said upright grooves in the sides of a ledge, and a stirrup of inverted-U shape engageable in side grooves of such support body and in side grooves of such base body ledge.
 6. The bearing defined in claim 3, the securing means including upright teeth on at least one upright side of a ledge and upright teeth on at least one upright side of a support body that can mesh with said teeth in an upright side of a ledge.
 7. The bearing defined in claim 3, the securing means including upright teeth on an upright side of a ledge, upright teeth on an upright side of a support body facing said toothed upright side of a ledge, and an intermediate piece having upright teeth on both sides, the teeth on one side of said intermediate piece being capable of meshing with the teeth on said toothed ledge side while teeth on the other side of the intermediate piece are meshed with teeth on said toothed upright support body side.
 8. The bearing defined in claim 1, the securing means including a groove in an inclined stationary support surface extending at an angle to a vertical plane perpendicular to a horizontal line in such inclined support surface, a slot in the support surface crossing said groove and a locking pin inserted through said slot and penetrating into said groove.
 9. The bearing defined in claim 1, the inclined stationary support surfaces being arranged in a cluster such that vertical planes perpendicular to horizontal lines in such respective inclined surfaces intersect.
 10. The bearing defined in claim 9, the plurality of inclined stationary support surfaces sloping downward toward a common point.
 11. The bearing defined in claim 9, the inclined stationary support surfaces being arranged so that the vertical planes perpendicular to horizontal lines in the respective inclined surfaces intersect at substantially right angles to each other.
 12. The bearing defined in claim 9, and spacer means located substantially midway between the inclined stationary support surfaces and projecting upward from the base body to a location above the upper surfaces of the support bodies.
 13. The bearing defined in claim 1, two inclined stationary support surfaces being disposed so that vertical planes perpendicular to horizontal lines in such respective inclined support surfaces intersect, and spacer means disposed substantially centrally between such intersecting vertical planes and projecting upwardly from the base body to a location above the upper surfaces of the support bodies. 